Executive Director of Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), Kofi Asare, has defended the relevance of university education, arguing that degree programmes should be evaluated based on the skills they impart rather than whether they lead directly to specific jobs.

His comments follow public criticism of former Education Minister and Bosomtwe MP, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, over remarks in which he reportedly described some university programmes as “useless” and “degrees to nowhere”, sparking debate about the value of tertiary education in Ghana.

In a Facebook post, Mr Asare maintained that although not every university programme is designed to prepare students for a single profession, every degree should equip graduates with the knowledge and competencies needed for employment, further education or entrepreneurship.

“Not every university degree needs to be directly tied to a specific job, but every degree must build the skills to succeed in work, further study, or entrepreneurship. ‘The wise elephant remembers paths, not just places’ – Larteh Proverb,” he wrote.

In a separate post, Mr Asare also urged Ghanaians to maintain civility in public discussions, cautioning against personal attacks on those expressing differing views on education policy.

“Why can’t one hold a contrary opinion without being insulted? Must disagreement with Adutwum be framed in personal attacks? Did we learn the basics of debate in school at all? ‘A good argument does not need insults to stand’ – Larteh Proverb,” he added.

The discussion continues to attract widespread reactions, with many weighing in on the relevance, structure and outcomes of university education in Ghana.